Ways to Give Back This November

We are finally past the dog days of summer, and the weather is starting to cool down. The kids are back in school, and we’re back to a routine. This is the perfect time to spend more time as a family and to volunteer together. 

November is a time for reflection and gratitude for all we have. It’s also a time to encourage social change, grow personally, and strengthen community bonds through volunteering. This month is an ideal time to dedicate yourself to serving others.

Community Needs: Identifying Where Help Is Most Needed

Sometimes, when we want to volunteer, it’s hard to determine where help is most needed. Luckily, there are various ways to determine who needs the most help. You can visit community forums and focus groups, or follow your favorite charities and nonprofits on Facebook to see if they need assistance.

Local Organizations Making a Difference This Month

One of the best ways to volunteer is to start locally. Go online and see what local organizations in your area need help with this year. You can find local organizations through the following sources:

• Your town’s volunteer local site
• Search nonprofits in your county
• Use your state government site to identify needs in your county
• Look for volunteer nonprofits and organizations in your town

 If local organizations are scarce in your area, look for local chapters of national organizations. You can find local chapters through the following sources:

• Local Associations National Directory: This directory can connect you with local associations and also features a listing of volunteer engagement professionals
• AmeriCorps: Find volunteer opportunities across national organizations
• Mobilize: Find volunteer opportunities near you here.
• Check if your state has a (Your state) Serves website to find volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Opportunities for Families: Serving Together

If you and your family decide to volunteer together this year, sit down and discuss which organizations and nonprofits are close to your hearts so that everyone can volunteer at a charity or nonprofit of their choice. For example, you can volunteer one day of each weekend this month and then, when the kids are on Thanksgiving break, do some extra volunteer work. 

Volunteering together as a family has significant benefits, such as;

• Strengthening relationships: Helping with a common goal strengthens relationships
• Skill development: Families learn new skills together
• Community engagement: Volunteering helps families connect with their community and make a positive impact, promoting civic responsibility
• Empathy and compassion: Volunteering teaches kids empathy and compassion for others

Corporate Service Initiatives: How Businesses Can Give Back

If you own a business, this is a great way to empower your employees to give back and be active in their communities. You can do this through community service, charitable donations, or sustainability efforts. Some ways you can do this are:

• Employee Volunteer Programs: These programs encourage your employees to volunteer their time and skills with local organizations.
• Corporate Charitable Giving: You can contribute financially to nonprofits, community projects, and disaster relief efforts
• Sustainability Initiatives: Implement practices in your company that prioritize environmental responsibility, like reducing waste or conserving energy
• Skill-Based Volunteering: Your employees can volunteer their professional skills, such as marketing, social media, writing, legal advice, etc, to local nonprofits that may not have the budget for such expertise
• Partnerships with Local Schools and Universities: You can collaborate with educational institutions and offer mentorships, internships, and funding for programs that benefit both students and the community. 

Conduct a poll with your employees to determine which organizations and opportunities they are most interested in. 

The Benefits of Giving Back

There are many benefits for businesses that give back to their communities, such as

• Enhanced Brand Reputation
• Increased employee engagement and morale
• Networking Opportunities
• Competitiveness in the Marketplace
• Positive impact on the community

Remote Volunteering: Opportunities You Can Do From Home

When we think about volunteering, we often think we have to leave our homes to do it, but this isn’t always the case. Did you know you can volunteer remotely? This is especially beneficial for individuals with disabilities or those living in areas prone to severe weather during the fall and winter months. You can still volunteer and do some good from the comfort of your own home. Some opportunities include:

• Virtual Tutoring and Teaching: If you are a teacher or former teacher, this is a great opportunity. Check out platforms like Learn to Be, Schoolhouse, and Upchieve.
• Writing and Content Creation: Have a way with words? Nonprofits often need assistance with articles, newsletters, social media posts, and other content. Check out organizations like Idealist.org to find opportunities.
• Mentorship and Counseling: Consider organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters to find opportunities to mentor and counsel young people.
• Administrative Support: Contact local nonprofits to determine if they require assistance with data entry. Email management and organizing virtual meetings. This is something you can easily do from home. 
• Virtual Mentor High School Kids: Sign up to be an eMentor with iCoudBe. 
• Proofread Books: Volunteer to proofread books through Distributed Proofreaders and Bookshare.
• Comfort Pets: The Anti-Cruelty Society provides opportunities to craft pet beds, toys, and kitty sachets for shelter animals. Not crafty? No worries, you can find lots of tutorials on their site to create the perfect project. (Note: Click ‘How to Help’ then ‘Ways to Give’ and then click on Other Ways to Give and scroll down to Do-it-Yourself (DIY) donations.)
• Send a Care Package to a Soldier: You can send either a one-time or ongoing care package to a soldier through Soldiers’ Angels. Look at their ‘How We Help’ page to learn more.
• Support People with Cancer: ChemoAngels is a volunteer organization that supports cancer patients.
• Volunteer for the Crisis Text Line: This may sound daunting, but volunteers undergo 30 hours of training to prepare for the opportunity.

Skill-Based Volunteering: Utilizing Your Expertise for Good

This is a structured approach to volunteering where you offer your professional knowledge, skills, or expertise to help nonprofits achieve their goals. This kind of volunteering assigns roles that align with a volunteer’s specific background. Some examples include:

• Lawyers providing legal advice
• Offering marketing or consulting strategies
• Designing websites or graphics
• Providing professional writing skills for blogs, articles, newsletters, and other outreach
• Conducting training sessions

There are fantastic benefits to people who do this kind of volunteering, which include:

• Personal fulfillment
• Professional development
• Skill diversification
• Building connections

Seasonal Initiatives: Food Drives and Holiday Assistance Programs

There are numerous volunteer opportunities available around the holidays. You can serve at a soup kitchen or get involved in a food drive. There are also opportunities to help with holiday assistance programs. These programs ensure everyone can have a wonderful holiday, regardless of their financial situation. Holiday programs include:

• Adopt a Family Programs
• Community feasts
• Toy drives
• Food basket distributions

How to Get Started: Steps to Find the Right Opportunity for You

Here are some steps to take in finding the right opportunity for you and your family.

• Assess your interests: What do you spend your free time doing? What do you like to learn about?
• Evaluate your skills: What skills do you have that you can put to use?
• Determine your values: Reflect on what matters most to you.

There are all kinds of ways you can volunteer this November to make someone else’s life brighter. Take some time to decide how you want to proceed today.

Photo credit: ©GettyImages/SDI Productions

Carrie Lowrance is a freelance writer and author. She has had her work featured on Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and the Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three clean romance books, one romance novella, three books of poetry, and one non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and baking, reading, and hanging out with her husband, and sweet cat, Cupcake. You can find out more about Carrie and her writing at www.carrielowrance.com.